Many longtime WWE fans look back on April 30, 1977, as a "changing of
the guard." Others look back on that day as a night in which one of
WWE's all-time legends was a victim of robbery. No matter which way
you look at it, the April 30, 1977 WWWF Championship match between
champion "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino and challenger (WWE Hall
of Famer) Superstar Billy Graham has over the years become as
legendary as the two Superstars that competed in it. For WWE fans in
the 1970s, it was a can't-miss ticket: the WWWF's greatest and most
beloved hero of the era facing the chiseled, flamboyant strongman from
Paradise Valley, AZ...with the WWWF Championship as the prize.

Prior to this match, Bruno Sammartino and Superstar Billy Graham had
several wars over the WWWF Championship, most notably a match that
took place the previous year at Madison Square Garden. In that match,
Graham snared a countout victory over Sammartino, and based on this,
tried to make a claim to the WWWF Championship despite the fact that
under WWWF rules, the Championship only changes hands on a pinfall or
a submission. Determined to shut the "Superstar"'s mouth for good,
Sammartino decided to grant Graham another shot at the gold, at the
Baltimore Civic Center, on April 30, 1977. It would be the last time
Bruno Sammartino would ever wear the WWWF Championship belt.

Graham's manager, WWE Hall of Famer the late Grand Wizard of
Wrestling, did not appear at ringside for this match. Perhaps the
Wizard had such high confidence in Graham that he felt no need to be
there. From the opening bell, it seemed that this night would belong
to Graham. A pair of collar-and-elbow tie-ups saw Graham get the upper
hand, both times shoving Sammartino into the corner with brute force.
The "Superstar" turned to the crowd and displayed his amazing
physique, which garnered not only the boos that a typical heel
character would recieve, but also a swath of cheers from fans that
enjoyed watching Graham perform. Indeed, Graham was a performer ahead
of his time, as Superstars ranging from Jesse "The Body" Ventura to
"Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner have patterened their personas largely
after Graham's. Graham succeeded the first couple of times in
out-muscling Sammartino, but on the third lock-up he wasn't so lucky.
This time, it would be "The Living Legend" that would gain the
advantage, pushing Graham into the corner and using the momentum to
take Graham down to the mat and apply a armbar into a wristlock. It
appeared Sammartino's strategy was not to engage in a brawl with
Graham, but rather use his knowledge of the sweet science to outwit
Graham, who was never known to use much scientific skill. While in the
armbar, Graham managed to reach the ropes and leave the ring to take a
breather and recollect himself. When he returned to the inside of the
ring, Graham at first attempted to beg off, but then lured Sammartino
into a test of strength. It seemed Graham was trying to keep
Sammartino from using pure wrestling skill and force the champion to
adapt to HIS style, which employed a lot of brawling and power moves.
At the start, Graham had Sammartino on his knees and at his mercy.
Sammartino then fought back to his feet and appeared to be
overpowering Graham, but it was to no avail, as Graham applied more
pressure and once again had the advantage. This time however,
Sammartino was able to successfully power out, and again take the
"Superstar" down to the mat and into an armbar. It looked like "The
Living Legend"'s strategy was working out for him. Graham would have
other plans, though.

Using his impressive strength, Graham forced his way out of the
armbar, threw Sammartino into the ropes, and caught him with a knee to
the gut. Now, Graham had the chance to employ his strategy, as he
repeatedly stomped the champion and leveled him with open-handed chops
to the throat. Graham punished Sammartino relentlessly, choking him on
the ropes and continuing to stomp away at the Italian sports legend.
The tide began to turn in Sammartino's favor though, when Graham threw
him into the opposite corner and charged toward him. Sammartino
ducked, and Graham's extended knee hit only the turnbuckles, sending
the challenger backwards, crashing to the canvas. Working on all
cylinders and his adrenaline pumping, Sammartino began to employ
brawling tactics of his own, stomping away at Graham and then ramming
him headfirst into the steel ringpost, bloodying the challenger. With
the Baltimore fans on their feet and jacked, Sammartino showed no
mercy, going straight for Graham's head wound with a powerful series
of rights. Bruno then attempted to Irish whip Graham into the corner,
but Graham reversed the move, and caught Sammartino in his bearhug.
Using his massively muscled arms to crush the breath out of
Sammartino, it appeared the champion was just moments away from a
submission. But Sammartino still had plenty of energy to spare, and
started to punch his way out of Graham's grip until he was released
from the hold. Sammartino then threw Graham into the opposite corner.
With Graham fallen on the mat, Sammartino kneed him in the back
repeatedly, setting Graham up for a bearhug of his own. With Graham
apparently softened up, Sammartino then employed a bearhug of his own.
Bruno Sammartino appeared to be on his way to another successful
championship defense.

But not if Graham still had a say. While locked in the bearhug, Graham
managed to reach the ropes, thus legally forcing Sammartino to break
the hold. Sammartino seemed to be growing increasingly frustrated with
Graham. Which is exactly what Graham wanted. With Sammartino off his
mindset, Graham would be able to strike unexpectedly and get the
victory, no matter what he had to do to get it. Sammartino kept Graham
in the corner, and went back to work on the head wound with several
hard punches. Referee Jack Davis forced Sammartino to back up and
allow Graham to get out of the corner. This was exactly the opening
Graham was looking for. While Sammartino was focused on arguing with
the official, Graham grabbed an unsuspecting Sammartino's left leg and
tripped him to the mat. Graham rolled Sammartino onto his shoulders,
and with his own feet illegally on the ropes for additional leverage,
Graham scored a tainted three-count to win the WWWF Championship.
Sammartino, his manager Arnold Skaaland (another WWE Hall of Famer),
and the majority of the fans in attendance were outraged by what had
just taken place. As Sammartino and Skaaland argued with the referee,
Graham quietly headed for the dressing room with the belt now in his
possession. Bruno Sammartino's second (and final) reign as WWWF
Champion had just come to an abrupt end. And the era of Superstar
Billy Graham was dawning.

To some, the rulebreaking Superstar Graham represented a new breed of
Champion and a refreshing change from the heroes of old. To others,
after all he had given to the company over the years, Bruno Sammartino
deserved better than to lose his title in such an unfair manner. In
actuality, the debate was irrelevant. Nothing could change the fact
that on the night of April 30, 1977, the "Superstar" conquered the
"Living Legend."